- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,170,585
- Reaction score
- 59
EAST LANSING – The No. 1-ranked Michigan State hockey program was eager to get back on the ice after an off week and began the first of a two-game series with Notre Dame on Feb. 19 in the second-to-last home series of the regular season.
And the Spartans got off to a fast start as defenseman Maxim Strbak scored just over three minutes into the game to ignite the Munn Ice Arena crowd.
But a quick start turned into a tightly-fought battle with the Irish, who came into Thursday's game with just two Big Ten wins but had been playing good hockey for the past month.
The Spartans nursed a 3-2 lead into the waning moments of the game when freshman forward Porter Martone stole the puck at center ice and held off Notre Dame defenseman Paul Fischer, gliding a puck into the empty net with one hand to secure a 4-2 series-opening win.
"I really liked our start, but I give Notre Dame credit, I thought they were the better team," MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. "I thought our power play did a good job executing when we needed to, and we did a good job making them defend. We didn't give them much in the back half of that third period. We're going to have to be sharper if we want success tomorrow."
Notre Dame's Dashel Oliver scored his first collegiate goal in response to Strbak's early tally to bring the Irish level, but the Spartans would take the lead back on the power-play, with the Spartans' top line once again providing the scoring punch.
A tic-tac-toe play from senior forward Daniel Russell to Martone to leading scorer Charlie Stramel led to Stramel scoring his 19th goal of the season for a 2-1 MSU lead. His assist on the play gave Russell a team-leading 24th helpers on the season.
Notre Dame would answer back on a man advantage of its own in the second period when forward Cole Knuble hit the top corner with a shot over MSU goaltender Trey Augustine's right shoulder. Augustine had just two blemishes in an otherwise spotless performance that included a season-high 37 saves.
The Spartans regained the lead late in the second period. As a power play opportunity dwindled down MSU's second unit delivered with just two seconds remaining with the advantage. Freshman forward Cayden Lindstrom, who moved up into the second line Thursday, delivered a cross-ice pass to junior Gavin O'Connell, who shot past Notre Dame's Luke Pearson to put the Spartans in front once again.
O'Connell, who turned 22 on Thursday, had a goal previously wiped off the board as a whistle blew play dead right before he put home a rebound in front.
"It was a good play by (Lindstrom), kind of a broken entry, and he saw me, made a good look, and I was fortunate enough to get my shot past him," O'Connell said. "I didn't hear a whistle on the called back goal, so I was pretty upset, but I figured the hockey Gods would hopefully have my back."
Notre Dame starting goaltender Nicholas Kempf made 18 saves but left the game in the second period with an injury. Pearson came in relief and made nine stops.
With the Spartans eyeing a sweep, MSU and Notre Dame will finish the series on Feb. 20, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be on the Big Ten Network.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at [email protected] and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott and Bluesky @nathanielbott.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State hockey handles tough test from Irish, wins series opener
Continue reading...
And the Spartans got off to a fast start as defenseman Maxim Strbak scored just over three minutes into the game to ignite the Munn Ice Arena crowd.
But a quick start turned into a tightly-fought battle with the Irish, who came into Thursday's game with just two Big Ten wins but had been playing good hockey for the past month.
The Spartans nursed a 3-2 lead into the waning moments of the game when freshman forward Porter Martone stole the puck at center ice and held off Notre Dame defenseman Paul Fischer, gliding a puck into the empty net with one hand to secure a 4-2 series-opening win.
You must be registered for see images attach
"I really liked our start, but I give Notre Dame credit, I thought they were the better team," MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. "I thought our power play did a good job executing when we needed to, and we did a good job making them defend. We didn't give them much in the back half of that third period. We're going to have to be sharper if we want success tomorrow."
Notre Dame's Dashel Oliver scored his first collegiate goal in response to Strbak's early tally to bring the Irish level, but the Spartans would take the lead back on the power-play, with the Spartans' top line once again providing the scoring punch.
A tic-tac-toe play from senior forward Daniel Russell to Martone to leading scorer Charlie Stramel led to Stramel scoring his 19th goal of the season for a 2-1 MSU lead. His assist on the play gave Russell a team-leading 24th helpers on the season.
Notre Dame would answer back on a man advantage of its own in the second period when forward Cole Knuble hit the top corner with a shot over MSU goaltender Trey Augustine's right shoulder. Augustine had just two blemishes in an otherwise spotless performance that included a season-high 37 saves.
The Spartans regained the lead late in the second period. As a power play opportunity dwindled down MSU's second unit delivered with just two seconds remaining with the advantage. Freshman forward Cayden Lindstrom, who moved up into the second line Thursday, delivered a cross-ice pass to junior Gavin O'Connell, who shot past Notre Dame's Luke Pearson to put the Spartans in front once again.
O'Connell, who turned 22 on Thursday, had a goal previously wiped off the board as a whistle blew play dead right before he put home a rebound in front.
"It was a good play by (Lindstrom), kind of a broken entry, and he saw me, made a good look, and I was fortunate enough to get my shot past him," O'Connell said. "I didn't hear a whistle on the called back goal, so I was pretty upset, but I figured the hockey Gods would hopefully have my back."
Notre Dame starting goaltender Nicholas Kempf made 18 saves but left the game in the second period with an injury. Pearson came in relief and made nine stops.
With the Spartans eyeing a sweep, MSU and Notre Dame will finish the series on Feb. 20, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be on the Big Ten Network.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at [email protected] and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott and Bluesky @nathanielbott.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State hockey handles tough test from Irish, wins series opener
Continue reading...
